Why Waterloo Region First Time Homebuyers Need an ‘Oh Dear’ Fund ASAP

When it comes to buying a new home for the first time, one of your top priorities after signing the contracts for your new place and unpacking all the boxes is one that far too many new Waterloo Region first time homeowners don’t always pay enough attention to.

The fact is that once the ‘moving dust’ has settled you should begin to divert some of your hard-earned cash into an “oh dear” fund. You may think you’re dodging the extra expense of would-be maintenance fees had you bought a condo or townhome, but even with a house, you should still be budgeting for unexpected repairs and maintenance.

While it might seem like overkill to squirrel away a few extra dollars every month when you’re already pouring money into a new mortgage (not to mention property taxes and insurance), it can be a real lifesaver down the line. As the average age of a home in the Waterloo Region tops out at 40+ years, you might find that you need to dip into your savings earlier than anticipated.

Step 1: Set a Minimum Amount

Conservative estimates suggest that you should aim to have approximately six months’ worth of income set aside in a rainy-day fund. While this might seem like a substantial sum, just remember, it’s all about baby steps.

A good rule of thumb: try to put away the equivalent of 5% of your monthly mortgage into your emergency fund until you have a sufficient safety net to protect you in the event that you lose your job, need to take some time off of work or come face-to-face with an overhaul project.

Step 2: Budget for Repairs and Maintenance

As a homeowner, routine maintenance and unexpected repairs can range from unplugging a clogged sink to changing an air filter in the furnace to replacing a malfunctioning water heater or even a leaky roof.

While some repairs are a quick-fix, others can add up to a jaw-dropping out-of-pocket expense. An emergency fund is essential to help you out of a bind without racking up a bucket load of debt. We suggest that you should budget 1% to 2% of your home’s value for regular maintenance and upkeep every year.

Step 3: Consider Home Improvements

While home improvements are often optional, it can really pay off to upgrade your home over time, particularly in terms of resale value. Renovating or remodeling can be an expensive undertaking, but if you budget for projects over time and carry them out when you find that you have a bit of a surplus to skim off the top of your emergency fund, you might turn a larger profit when you decide to sell your home.

While it’s fairly usual for first-time homeowners to use all of the assets at their disposable to come up with a down payment, it’s important to start building your little nest egg back up as soon as possible to deal with any unexpected and/or budgeted costs and projects that might come up along the way.